Dwight E. Smith, Jr. originates from San Fernando, California, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He holds a master’s degree in Engineering Management from The Catholic University of America, as well as a master’s degree in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California.
Upon commissioning, he initially served as a submarine warfare officer and transferred to naval oceanography in 2007. Prior to retiring from the Navy and joining Mythos AI, Captain Smith served as a member of the Navy’s Information Warfare Community as the Director of the Maritime Safety Office at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). In that role he was directly responsible for all aspects of the U.S. government including DoD safety of navigation including updates and modernization of nautical charts, warnings, publications and international charting authority responsibilities globally.
At sea, Dwight served aboard USS NORFOLK (SSN 714) as a division officer and aboard CARRIER STRIKE GROUP TEN onboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 72) as the strike group meteorologist and oceanographer.
Ashore, he served at the Officer in Charge of Training Materials for the SSBN/SSGN missile systems at Strategic Systems Programs, action officer at Fleet Numerical Meteorological and Oceanography Center, military instructor in the U.S. Naval Academy Oceanography department, Defense Intelligence Agency/Joint Staff – J2 METOC/GEOINT Officer, Executive Officer/Deputy Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory and Director of Space Operations and Integration at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Dwight commanded the Naval Oceanography Special Warfare Center (NOSWC) in Coronado, California from 2017 – 2019.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), the Navy Expeditionary Medal and various unit and sea service awards.